Event

The concert will include music from the sixteenth to the twentieth century performed by Gael Reed, soprano and Gary Digman, lute, viola da gamba and guitar. Songs and instrumental works by Josquin Des Prez, Henry Purcell, John Dowland, Tobias Hume, Marin Marais and Matyas Seiber will be featured.

Gael Reed performs throughout Sonoma County in solo concerts as well as with the Coffee Concert Series, the Jarvis Conservatory Opera Nights and The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) High Tea and High C concerts. Gael remembers as a child lying on her bed singing Anglican hymns at the top of her lungs. Her father would often suggest that she go sing them for the local minister who lived down the block (probably to get her out of the house!) Gael is a long time vocal student of Beth Freeman in Guerneville and is enormously grateful to her talented, gifted teacher, singer and friend. Beth can be heard singing with Gael on two tracks of the CD titled Parlez-Moi d'Amour, a CD of French songs and Arias with Sonia Turbridy accompanying.

Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Gary Digman attended Loras College and the University of Iowa. Having performed for many years as a jazz and classical guitarist and double bassist, Gary purchased a bass viola da gamba from the luthier Lyn Elder in 2000 after hearing Jordi Savall's playing in the French film, "Tous les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World)." This, together with the acquisition of a ten-course lute, also made by Lyn Elder, has allowed Gary to continue a life-long interest in early music. He has studied guitar with John Mavreas in Chicago, Illinois, Fred Draper and Bill Pasquale in Davenport, Iowa and Joseph Bacon in San Francisco, California. He studied viola da gamba with John Dornenburg, and lute with Ed Martin. Gary is a member of the music faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College.